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increase the number of elected members and to reduce the number of appointed members, and then to set up District Advisory Boards which should work under the Council, with members selected mainly by election. In 1971, the Government's White Paper on District Administration evaded mentioning the District Advisory Boards.
The White Paper on District Administration in Hong Kong, published in January 1981, recommended the setting up of District Boards which are independent of the Council. However, matters to be advised by the District Boards are mostly the work of the Council. What a laughing stock!
It grieves me to conclude my speech with a pessimistic note on the future of the Council, and that of Hong Kong's democratic policy.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. CHAN CHI-KWAN, PETER (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I believe our Members must have noticed that there is a serious social problem lurking in Hong Kong. This problem has recently manifested itself in the incidents comparable in part to disturbances that occurred in Central District on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve about a fortnight ago. As indicated by the incidents themselves, it is obvious that these were not organized activities and that there was no political motive behind the scenes. The sheer fact is that many youngsters have cherished some pent-up depressed feeling for which no outlet is provided, and this situation is highly explosive. I believe that such a 'time bomb' would possibly explode again when the right opportunity arises. I do not mean to raise alarms with intent to shock. What I have just said should by no means be regarded as casual remarks made by a person who is over-sensitive to a given situation.
I, therefore, take the opportunity of this Annual Conventional Debate today to briefly express my opinions on the topic of 'The depressed mind of the youths and the proper guidance for their enlightenment'. I hope the authorities concerned and the voluntary agencies which are engaged in the promotion of recreational activities for young persons will make an in-depth study of the matter, reviewing and improving the situation so that this energetic group of young people with potential abilities may be able to receive proper guidance for their enlightenment. Only by so doing will they be able to be led away from the crossroads heading straight for a road with brilliant prospect.
I must point out that today most of the youths do not realize the real situation they are in and the future before them. They indulge themselves too much in pursuit of material pleasure. They have a strong feeling that in a community where a great disparity in wealth between the rich and the poor exists their desires and demands can hardly be satisfied. They, therefore, bear resentment against the realities and actively pursue material pleasure to the extent of completely disregarding their own position. They will feel most dejected and annoyed if they fail to attain their aims. Moreover, as many of them are great admirers of Westernized habits, they lead an inordinate life spending money extravagantly. Isn't it that such an attitude towards life somewhat similar to that as suggested in the onetime popular song 'Better be a swindler than a king"? As we can see, many youngsters are dressed in the 'grease' style because they incline to think that unless those wearables and shoes are of a famous brand they are not 'smart' enough for them.
On the other hand, although the authorities concerned have over the years been doing their utmost in giving care and support to the young people, particularly in spending quite a large sum of money from the public funds to provide recreational activities for them, yet in the course of such activities, these youngsters, I believe, have not been given proper guidance on good character building and development of lofty aspirations. Besides, they have scarcely any opportunities to acquaint themselves with academic or technical guidance for the benefit of their careers or daily life. What have been provided for them are mostly a variety of activities and programmes merely intended for relaxation and enjoyment. Such activities, of course, can easily cater for the taste of the young people who go after them in flocks. But what good have they got? Apart from whiling away the leisure time after work or school so as to make life less dull, such activities, I believe, cannot achieve anything good. The youngsters just muddle along with their mind being a complete blank.
It might be said that one can get to know more friends by participating in all sorts of recreational activities such as camping, barbecues, etc. But some parents would sooner agree that one might be led astray by taking part in recreational activities which are open to the public and which are not organized by specific groups because they believe that, with all sorts of participants, bad and good, mixing together in such activities, a young person, instead of acquiring some knowledge, may easily fall prey to triad elements lurking behind from time to time. It is most common that young persons often take advantage of such activities to make friends with the opposite sex, and this explains why such activities appeal most to the youngsters. Some people say that such functions can be regarded as 'the base camp of courting couples', and that taking part in them provides every opportunity for a young person to look for a mate or to woo a girl.
Although the sponsors of an organizing body may be well-intentioned, most of the activities are not well organized. They fall short of expectations because they fail to educate the young people. Besides, there are no responsible persons to give guidance. I therefore hope that the Recreation and Sport Service will keep them under review evaluating all the recreational activities in an attempt to associate them with education as far as possible. Also, the programmes organized for them need not to be too Westernized. The two open balls, for instance, held at the Blake Pier in Central District under the auspices of the
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